Ancient - Colorful - Spiritual

October 22, 2019
Beloved: ​

Willing to experience this aloneness,
I discover connections everywhere; 
Turning to face my fear,
I meet the warrior who lives within;
Opening to my loss, 
I gain the embrace of the universe;
Surrendering into emptiness, 
I find fullness without end. 
Each condition I flee from pursues me.
Each condition I welcome transforms me 
And becomes itself transformed
Into its radiant jewel-like essence. 
I bow to the one who made it so, 
Who has crafted this Master Game; 
To play it is purest delight;
To honor its form – true devotion.

 
​            Nothing sums up my trip to India more precisely than this poem my yoga teacher read to us our second morning together.  I can tell a story for every nearly every line.  For some, I can tell a dozen.  My body has been home nine days but my heart and mind are still only halfway here. 
             India is an ancient place where modern ways look almost like a joke, the man driving his camel-drawn cart while talking on his cell phone.  “Did you see that?” my group members asked each other, wondering if we all simultaneously had a vision.  Turns out construction companies use camels all the time for hauling extra-heavy supplies.  A week in and none of us even get out our cameras anymore.
             India is a colorful place that left my eyes aching from the beauty of her people, their clothes and their food.  The flowers, the field, the animals, the waters, the mountains.  I am so glad I saw it.
             India is a spiritual place, reminding me that God is both really, really old and has at least a thousand faces.  No words of mine will ever tell it.  I took a few pictures which I’ll have on slideshow tomorrow at Wednesday Night Supper if you’d like to come and see.  We’ll share a meal I call “What’s in my freezer that I can cook up nice?”  Think rice and tacos.  We’ll also have all those Sunday potluck dessert leftovers and have some sweet table time together.  I hope to see you there.  We pray and serve at 6.  I’m so glad to be home again! 
​

~peace & prayers,
pastor annette

Bull and monkeys in Rajasthan